The Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee (NSGK) convened on Wednesday to deliberate on the expiration of national sanctions targeting Russian and Belarusian individuals in May.
During the meeting, intelligence officers from the
State Security Department (VSD) suggested a regulation that would permit Belarusian residents in Lithuania to return to Belarus just once a year, with the risk of losing their residency permit otherwise.
Criticism has arisen from the Vilnius-based office of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,
denouncing the potential amendments in parliament as punitive towards ordinary citizens.
There are conflicting views on the matter. Four conservative members of parliament propose amending the law to revoke temporary residence permits for Russian and Belarusian nationals if they travel to their home countries more than once within a year.
Audronius Ažubalis, one of the proponents, argues that
such a measure would help mitigate the risk of foreign security agency recruitment.
“Our proposals reflect the real situation, and we have based them on the threat assessment of the VSD and the Second Department [military intelligence] over the last two years,” the conservative politician said.
The VSD has previously
warned of Belarusian intelligence attempting to recruit travelers and intercept their personal belongings and devices, posing a threat to Lithuania’s security.
Dovilė Šakalienė, a social democratic member of NSGK, pointed out exemptions for certain professions, such as truck drivers, but emphasized the counterintelligence threat posed by even a single trip.
“In our opinion, a person crossing the Lithuanian-Belarusian border even once poses a counter-intelligence threat,” he said at the NSGK meeting.
The debate extends to criticism from the Economy Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, questioning the feasibility of enforcement and potential economic impacts.
Despite the lack of consensus, NSGK plans to reconvene on Friday to further deliberate on the issue.
Meanwhile, Tsikhanouskaya’s office argues that restricting travel and risking the loss of residency permits unfairly penalizes ordinary Belarusians for crimes attributed to their authoritarian government.
“Traveling back home is often not a whim but a necessity; many have relatives and friends there who need help. In addition, travelers from Lithuania to Belarus bring the truth about Europe, which helps to counter the propaganda of the ‘Russian world’,” according to a press release issued on Tuesday evening.
Lithuania introduced sanctions on Russian and Belarusian nationals last year, including visa restrictions and additional border checks, set to expire in May. The government seeks to extend these measures and enhance screening for potential threats.
